Sanchez fires a hat-trick as Barca reclaim top spot

Photo: EPA

Alexis Sanchez netted his first hat-trick for Barcelona to spark their 4-0 win over Elche at the Camp Nou on Sunday, setting up a highly anticipated showdown with Atletico Madrid next week between the top two teams in La Liga.

With Lionel Messi watching from the stands and Neymar waiting in the dugout, Barcelona turned to Alexis and their core of Spain internationals for a second straight victory without their star forwards either side of the two-week winter break.

Alexis opened the scoring in the seventh minute and struck twice more in the 63rd and 69th after Pedro Rodriguez had doubled the advantage and Xavi Hernandez had missed a penalty.

“The holidays were good for me,” said Alexis, who also credited first-year coach Gerardo Martino for improving his scoring rate.

“I think Martino gave me the confidence I needed as a player,” Alexis told GOL TV.

Barcelona’s victory was their ninth in as many league games at home this season and they remain tied on points with Atletico at the top the table. The pressure was on Real Madrid yesterday when they were due to host RC Celta de Vigo trailing the pacesetting pair by eight points.

Alexis and Pedro lead the team with 11 goals each in the league, tying them as the league’s fourth-highest scorers this campaign.

Both players were given ovations when substituted late, with Neymar coming on for the final minutes.

Martino said he was as impressed by Alexis’ treble as anyone else, especially with his last goal from a free-kick.

“Alexis takes free-kicks well in practice,” Martino said. “When Leo [Messi], Xavi, Cesc [Fabregas] or Neymar are playing, they almost never let him take one.”

Elsewhere on Sunday, Real Sociedad downed Athletic Bilbao 2-0 in an entertaining Basque Country derby to close to within one point of their rivals in fourth place and the last UEFA Champions League spot.

Carlos Bacca scored one goal and set up two more to help Sevilla beat Getafe 3-0 at home, provisionally lifting the club into sixth place behind Sociedad with their fifth victory in a six-game unbeaten streak in La Liga.

Espanyol coach Javier Aguirre was expelled from the dugout in the second half, apparently for arguing with the referee.

Messi tore his left hamstring on Nov. 11 and only returned to training with Barcelona this week, having spent time in Argentina doing rehabilitation. He was left out of the squad for Sunday’s game and Martino will have to decide if he brings him back against Getafe tomorrow in the Copa del Rey to get him up to speed before the big trip to Atletico next Sunday.

“Messi is fine physically and in good spirits,” Martino said. “Whether he plays or not depends on his mentality, on whether he has gotten over the fear of the injury.”

Alexis charged behind his marker to meet Jordi Alba’s cross from the left and volley it into the corner of the net to get Barcelona rolling.

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes looked a tad rusty in his first action in six weeks after returning from injury in the 14th minute when Yiadom Boakye blasted the ball off the post, but he was not tested again after Pedro made it 2-0 two minutes later.

Pedro followed up his hat-trick at Getafe in the last round by meeting Fabregas’ weighted pass behind the defense, then used one touch to round goalkeeper Antonio Martinez, before sliding the ball inside the near post.